Disaggregated &amp; distributed composable infrastructure

ABSTRACT

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive, over a network, a request for network services from a customer, the request comprising desired characteristics and performance parameters, without specific information regarding any of hardware, hardware type, location, or network for providing the requested services. The computing system might identify network resources based at least in part on the desired characteristics and performance parameters, might establish transport links between the identified two or more network resources (which may be disaggregated and distributed), might configure (in some cases, based on derived distributable synchronization state(s)) at least one of the identified network resources to simulate zero (or near-zero) latency and/or to simulate zero (or near-zero) distance between the identified network resources, and might allocate the identified two or more network resources for providing the requested network services.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing disaggregated composable infrastructure,and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses forimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure.

BACKGROUND

In typical network resource allocation schemes, a customer might providea request for network services from a set list of network services,which might include, among other things, information regarding one ormore of specific hardware, specific hardware type, specific location,and/or specific network for providing network services, or the like. Thecustomer might select the particular hardware, hardware type, location,and/or network based on stated or estimated performance metrics forthese components or generic versions of these components, but might notconvey the customer's specific desired performance parameters. Theservice provider then allocates network resources based on the selectedone or more of specific hardware, specific hardware type, specificlocation, or specific network for providing network services, asindicated in the request.

Such specific requests, however, do not necessarily provide the serviceprovider with the intent or expectations of the customer. Accordingly,the service provider will likely make network resource reallocationdecisions based on what is best for the network from the perspective ofthe service provider, but not necessarily what is best for the customer.Importantly, these conventional systems do not utilize metadata inresource inventory databases for implementing intent-based serviceconfiguration, service conformance, and/or service auditing.

Further, conventional network resource allocation systems typicallyutilize either specialized or all-purpose network devices that areexpensive or that contains network resources that are not used to fullpotential (i.e., with wasted potential). Such conventional networkresource allocation systems also do not simulate zero latency ornear-zero latency between two or more network resources or simulate zerodistance or near-zero distance between the two or more network resourceswhile utilizing optical transport, much less configure the two or morenetwork resources as a combined or integrated network resource despitethe two or more network resources being disaggregated and distributednetwork resources.

Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable solutions forimplementing disaggregated composable infrastructure, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particularembodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals areused to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label isassociated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similarcomponents. When reference is made to a reference numeral withoutspecification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to allsuch multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another system forimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another system forimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic diagrams illustrating various non-limitingexamples of implementing intent-based service configuration, serviceconformance, and/or service auditing that may be applicable toimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure, in accordance to various embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5D are flow diagrams illustrating a method for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a networked system of computers,computing systems, or system hardware architecture, which can be used inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS Overview

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for implementingdisaggregated composable infrastructure, and, more particularly, tomethods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing intent-baseddisaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure.

In various embodiments, a computing system might receive, over anetwork, a request for network services from a customer, the request fornetwork services comprising desired characteristics and performanceparameters for the requested network services, without informationregarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type, specificlocation, or specific network for providing the requested networkservices. The computing system might identify two or more networkresources from two or more first networks capable of providing therequested network services, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices. The computing system might establish one or more transportlinks (e.g., optical transport links, network transport links, or wiredtransport links, and/or the like) between the identified two or morenetwork resources, the identified two or more network resources beingdisaggregated and distributed network resources. According to someembodiments, establishing the one or more transport links between thedisaggregated and distributed identified two or more network resourcesmight comprise utilizing light steered transport to establish the one ormore transport links between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources.

The computing system might configure at least one network resource ofthe identified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services. The computing system might allocatethe identified two or more network resources for providing the requestednetwork services.

In some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources might compriseusing a re-timer to simulate zero latency or near-zero latency betweenthe identified two or more network resources. Alternatively, oradditionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater to simulate zero distance or near-zero distancebetween the identified two or more network resources. Alternatively, oradditionally, simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between theidentified two or more network resources or simulating zero distance ornear-zero distance between the identified two or more network resourcesmight comprise utilizing a buffer with flexible buffer capacity tosimulate zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified two ormore network resources or to simulate zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources.

According to some embodiments, the computing system might map aplurality of network resources within the two or more first networks. Insome cases, identifying the two or more network resources might compriseidentifying the two or more network resources from the two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on themapping of the plurality of network resources.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightinclude, without limitation, peripheral component interconnect(“PCI”)-based network cards each comprising one or more networkinterface cards (“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphicsprocessing units (“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices, and/or thelike. Alternatively, or additionally, the identified two or more networkresources might include, but is not limited to, two or more generic orsingle-purpose network devices in place of specialized or all-purposenetwork devices.

The various embodiments utilize two or more generic or single-purposenetwork devices in place of specialized or all-purpose network devices,and as such reduces the cost of network resources and thus reducing thecost of allocation of network resources, while avoiding wasted potentialor unused portions of the network resources when allocating saidresources to customers. The various embodiments also simulate zerolatency or near-zero latency between two or more network resources orsimulate zero distance or near-zero distance between the two or morenetwork resources while utilizing optical transport, and also configurethe two or more network resources as a combined or integrated networkresource despite the two or more network resources being disaggregatedand distributed network resources.

These and other aspects of the intent-based disaggregated anddistributed composable infrastructure are described in greater detailwith respect to the figures.

The following detailed description illustrates a few exemplaryembodiments in further detail to enable one of skill in the art topractice such embodiments. The described examples are provided forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the presentinvention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Inother instances, certain structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form. Several embodiments are described herein, and whilevarious features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should beappreciated that the features described with respect to one embodimentmay be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token,however, no single feature or features of any described embodimentshould be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, asother embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used herein to expressquantities, dimensions, and so forth used should be understood as beingmodified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, theuse of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and/or” unlessotherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as wellas other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considerednon-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompassboth elements and components comprising one unit and elements andcomponents that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically statedotherwise.

Various embodiments described herein, while embodying (in some cases)software products, computer-performed methods, and/or computer systems,represent tangible, concrete improvements to existing technologicalareas, including, without limitation, network configuration technology,network resource allocation technology, and/or the like. In otheraspects, certain embodiments, can improve the functioning of a computeror network system itself (e.g., computing devices or systems that formparts of the network, computing devices or systems, network elements orthe like for performing the functionalities described below, etc.), forexample, by receiving, with a computing system over a network, a requestfor network services from a customer, the request for network servicescomprising desired characteristics and performance parameters for therequested network services, without information regarding any ofspecific hardware, specific hardware type, specific location, orspecific network for providing the requested network services;identifying, with the computing system, two or more network resourcesfrom two or more first networks capable of providing the requestednetwork services, based at least in part on the desired characteristicsand performance parameters for the requested network services;establishing, with the computing system, one or more transport links(e.g., optical transport links, network transport links, wired transportlinks, or wireless transport links, and/or the like) between theidentified two or more network resources, the identified two or morenetwork resources being disaggregated and distributed network resources;configuring, with the computing system, at least one network resource ofthe identified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services; and allocating, with the computingsystem, the identified two or more network resources for providing therequested network services; and/or the like.

In particular, to the extent any abstract concepts are present in thevarious embodiments, those concepts can be implemented as describedherein by devices, software, systems, and methods that involve specificnovel functionality (e.g., steps or operations), such as, establishing,with a computing system, one or more transport links between identifiedtwo or more network resources, the identified two or more networkresources being disaggregated and distributed network resources;configuring, with the computing system, at least one network resource ofthe identified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on desired characteristics and performance parameters forrequested network services; and allocating, with the computing system,the identified two or more network resources for providing the requestednetwork services, and/or the like, to name a few examples, that extendbeyond mere conventional computer processing operations. Thesefunctionalities can produce tangible results outside of the implementingcomputer system, including, merely by way of example, ability to improvenetwork functions, network resource allocation and utilization, and/orthe like, in various embodiments based on the intent-driven requests fornetwork resources used to fulfill network service requests by customers,which may be observed or measured by customers and/or service providers.

In an aspect, a method might comprise receiving, with a computing systemover a network, a request for network services from a customer, therequest for network services comprising desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,specific location, or specific network for providing the requestednetwork services; identifying, with the computing system, two or morenetwork resources from two or more first networks capable of providingthe requested network services, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices; establishing, with the computing system, one or more transportlinks between the identified two or more network resources, theidentified two or more network resources being disaggregated anddistributed network resources; deriving, with the computing system,distributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links;configuring, with the computing system, at least one network resource ofthe identified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state; and allocating, with thecomputing system, the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise one of a pathcomputation engine, a data flow manager, a server computer over anetwork, a cloud-based computing system over a network, or a distributedcomputing system, and/or the like. In some cases, the one or moretransport links comprise at least one of one or more optical transportlinks, one or more network transport links, one or more wired transportlinks, or one or more wireless transport links, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, deriving, with the computingsystem, distributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links maycomprise performing one of: comparing, with the computing system, systemclocks each associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving, with the computing system, the distributablesynchronization state based on any differences in the comparison of thesystem clocks; or comparing, with the computing system, two or more Qbitmulti-states of two or more quantum timing systems associated with atleast two of the identified two or more network resources, and deriving,with the computing system, the distributable synchronization state basedon any differences in the comparison of the two or more Qbitmulti-states of each quantum timing system.

According to some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources mightcomprise using a re-timer to simulate zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources, based at least inpart on the derived distributable synchronization state. Alternatively,or additionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance betweenthe identified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater to simulate zero distance or near-zero distancebetween the identified two or more network resources, based at least inpart on the derived distributable synchronization state. Alternatively,or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zero latency betweenthe identified two or more network resources or simulating zero distanceor near-zero distance between the identified two or more networkresources might comprise utilizing a buffer with flexible buffercapacity to simulate zero latency or near-zero latency between theidentified two or more network resources or to simulate zero distance ornear-zero distance between the identified two or more network resources,based at least in part on the derived distributable synchronizationstate.

In some embodiments, establishing the one or more transport linksbetween the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources might comprise utilizing light steered transport to establishthe one or more transport links between the disaggregated anddistributed identified two or more network resources.

According to some embodiments, the method might further comprisemapping, with computing system, a plurality of network resources withinthe two or more first networks. In some instances, identifying the twoor more network resources might comprise identifying, with the computingsystem, the two or more network resources from the two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on themapping of the plurality of network resources. In some cases, at leastone of identifying the two or more network resources, mapping theplurality of network resources, or configuring the at least one networkresource of the identified two or more network resources might beperformed using at least one of one or more artificial intelligence(“AI”) systems, one or more machine learning systems, one or more cloudsystems, or one or more software defined network (“SDN”) systems, and/orthe like.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightcomprise peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”)-based network cardseach comprising one or more network interface cards (“NICs”), one ormore smart NICs, one or more graphics processing units (“GPUs”), or oneor more storage devices, and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, the identified two or more network resources mightcomprise two or more generic or single-purpose network devices in placeof specialized or all-purpose network devices.

According to some embodiments, the desired characteristics mightcomprise at least one of requirement for network equipment to begeophysically proximate to the customer, requirement for networkequipment to be located within a geophysical location, requirement toavoid routing network traffic through a geophysical location,requirement to route network traffic through a geophysical location,requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the desired performance parameters might compriseat least one of a maximum latency, a maximum jitter, a maximum packetloss, a maximum number of hops, performance parameters defined in aservice level agreement (“SLA”) associated with the customer orperformance parameters defined in terms of natural resource usage,quality of service (“QoS”) measurement data, platform resource data andmetrics, service usage data, topology and reference data, historicalnetwork data, network usage trend data, or one or more of informationregarding at least one of latency, jitter, bandwidth, packet loss, nodalconnectivity, compute resources, storage resources, memory capacity,routing, operations support systems (“OSS”), or business support systems(“BSS”) or information regarding at least one of fault, configuration,accounting, performance, or security (“FCAPS”), and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, allocating the two or more networkresources from the two or more first networks for providing therequested network services might comprise providing the two or morefirst networks with access over the one or more transport links to oneor more virtual network functions (“VNFs”) for use by the customer, theone or more VNFs providing the two or more network resources having thedesired performance parameters. In some instances, providing access tothe one or more VNFs might comprise bursting, using an applicationprogramming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one or more networkfunctions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two or more firstnetworks.

In some embodiments, the method might further comprise determining, withan audit engine, whether each of the identified two or more networkresources conforms with the desired characteristics and performanceparameters. In some cases, determining whether each of the identifiedtwo or more network resources conforms with the desired characteristicsand performance parameters might comprise determining, with the auditengine, whether each of the identified two or more network resourcesconforms with the desired characteristics and performance parameters ona periodic basis or in response to a request to perform an audit.Alternatively, or additionally, determining whether each of theidentified two or more network resources conforms with the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters might comprise determining,with the audit engine, whether each of the identified two or morenetwork resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters, by: measuring one or more network performancemetrics of each of the identified two or more network resources;comparing, with the audit engine, the measured one or more networkperformance metrics of each of the identified two or more networkresources with the desired performance parameters; determiningcharacteristics of each of the identified two or more network resources;and comparing, with the audit engine, the determined characteristics ofeach of the identified two or more network resources with the desiredcharacteristics.

In another aspect, an apparatus might comprise at least one processorand a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled tothe at least one processor. The non-transitory computer readable mediummight have stored thereon computer software comprising a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causesthe apparatus to: receive, over a network, a request for networkservices from a customer, the request for network services comprisingdesired characteristics and performance parameters for the requestednetwork services, without information regarding any of specifichardware, specific hardware type, specific location, or specific networkfor providing the requested network services; identify two or morenetwork resources from two or more first networks capable of providingthe requested network services, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices; establish one or more transport links between the identifiedtwo or more network resources, the identified two or more networkresources being disaggregated and distributed network resources; derivedistributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links;configure at least one network resource of the identified two or morenetwork resources to perform at least one of simulating zero latency ornear-zero latency between the identified two or more network resourcesor simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices and based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state; and allocate the identified two or more networkresources for providing the requested network services.

In yet another aspect, a system might comprise a computing system, whichmight comprise at least one first processor and a first non-transitorycomputer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least onefirst processor. The first non-transitory computer readable medium mighthave stored thereon computer software comprising a first set ofinstructions that, when executed by the at least one first processor,causes the computing system to: receive, over a network, a request fornetwork services from a customer, the request for network servicescomprising desired characteristics and performance parameters for therequested network services, without information regarding any ofspecific hardware, specific hardware type, specific location, orspecific network for providing the requested network services; identifytwo or more network resources from two or more first networks capable ofproviding the requested network services, based at least in part on thedesired characteristics and performance parameters for the requestednetwork services; establish one or more transport links between theidentified two or more network resources, the identified two or morenetwork resources being disaggregated and distributed network resources;derive distributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links;configure at least one network resource of the identified two or morenetwork resources to perform at least one of simulating zero latency ornear-zero latency between the identified two or more network resourcesor simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices and based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state; and allocate the identified two or more networkresources for providing the requested network services.

According to some embodiments, the computing system might comprise oneof a path computation engine, a data flow manager, a server computerover a network, a cloud-based computing system over a network, or adistributed computing system, and/or the like.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodimentsdiscussed without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combination of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the above described features.

Specific Exemplary Embodiments

We now turn to the embodiments as illustrated by the drawings. FIGS. 1-7illustrate some of the features of the method, system, and apparatus forimplementing disaggregated composable infrastructure, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure, asreferred to above. The methods, systems, and apparatuses illustrated byFIGS. 1-7 refer to examples of different embodiments that includevarious components and steps, which can be considered alternatives orwhich can be used in conjunction with one another in the variousembodiments. The description of the illustrated methods, systems, andapparatuses shown in FIGS. 1-7 is provided for purposes of illustrationand should not be considered to limit the scope of the differentembodiments.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a system 100 for implementing intent-based disaggregatedand distributed composable infrastructure, in accordance with variousembodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 1 , system 100 might comprise acomputing system 105 in service provider network 110. In someembodiments, the computing system 105 might include, but is not limitedto, one of a path computation engine, a data flow manager, a servercomputer over a network, a cloud-based computing system over a network,or a distributed computing system, and/or the like. The computing system105 might receive (via one or more of wired connection, wirelessconnection, optical transport links, and/or electrical connection, orthe like (collectively, “network connectivity” or the like)) a requestfor network services from a customer 115, via one or more user devices120 a-120 n (collectively, “user devices 120”), via access network 125.The one or more user devices 120 might include, without limitation, atleast one of a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, and/or the like. The request for networkservices might include desired characteristics and performanceparameters for the requested network services, without informationregarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type, specificlocation, or specific network for providing the requested networkservices.

The desired performance parameters, in some embodiments, might include,but is not limited to, at least one of a maximum latency, a maximumjitter, a maximum packet loss, or a maximum number of hops, performanceparameters defined in a service level agreement (“SLA”) associated withthe customer or performance parameters defined in terms of naturalresource usage, quality of service (“QoS”) measurement data, platformresource data and metrics, service usage data, topology and referencedata, historical network data, network usage trend data, or one or moreof information regarding at least one of latency, jitter, bandwidth,packet loss, nodal connectivity, compute resources, storage resources,memory capacity, routing, operations support systems (“OSS”), orbusiness support systems (“BSS”) or information regarding at least oneof fault, configuration, accounting, performance, or security (“FCAPS”),and/or the like.

The desired characteristics, according to some embodiments, mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of requirement for networkequipment to be geophysically proximate to the customer, requirement fornetwork equipment to be located within a geophysical location,requirement to avoid routing network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to route network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer, and/or the like.

System 100 might further comprise network resources 130 that may bedisposed, and/or communicatively coupled to, networks 135 a-135 n(collectively, “networks 135” or the like) and/or networks 140 a-140 n(collectively, “networks 140” or the like). In some embodiments, thecomputing system 105 might analyze first metadata regarding resourceattributes and characteristics of a plurality of unassigned networkresources to identify one or more network resources 130 among theplurality of unassigned network resources for providing the requestednetwork services, the first metadata having been striped to entries ofthe plurality of unassigned network resources in a resource database,which might include, without limitation, resource inventory database145, intent metadata database 150, data lake 170, and/or the like. Basedon the analysis, the computing system 105 might allocate at least oneidentified network resource 130 among the identified one or more networkresources 130 for providing the requested network services. Thecomputing system 105 might stripe the entry with second metadataindicative of the desired characteristics and performance parameters ascomprised in the request for network services. In some cases, stripingthe entry with the second metadata might comprise striping the entry inthe resource inventory database 145. Alternatively, striping the entrywith the second metadata might comprise striping or adding an entry inthe intent metadata inventory 150, which might be part of resourceinventory database 145 or might be physically separate (or logicallypartitioned) from the resource inventory database 145, or the like. Insome cases, the first metadata might be analyzed after being received bythe computing system in response to one of a pull data distributioninstruction, a push data distribution instruction, or a hybrid push-pulldata distribution instruction, and/or the like.

Once the at least one identified network resource 130 has been allocatedor assigned, the computing system 105 might update an active inventorydatabase 155 with such information—in some cases, by adding an entry inthe active inventory database 155 with information indicating that theat least one identified network resource 130 has been allocated toprovide particular requested network service(s) to customer 115. In someembodiments, the computing system 105 might stripe the added entry inthe active inventory database 155 with a copy of the second metadataindicative of the desired characteristics and performance parameters ascomprised in the request for network services. In some instances, theresource inventory database 145 might store an equipment record thatlists every piece of inventory that is accessible by the computingsystem 105 (either already allocated for fulfillment of network servicesto existing customers or available for allocation for fulfillment of newnetwork services to existing or new customers). The active inventorydatabase 155 might store a circuit record listing the active inventorythat are being used for fulfilling network services. The data lake 170might store a customer record that lists the service record of customer,and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, system 100 might further comprise qualityof service test and validate server or audit engine 160, which performsmeasurement and/or collection of network performance metrics for atleast one of the one or more network resources 130 and/or the one ormore networks 135 and/or 140, and/or which performs auditing todetermine whether each of the identified one or more network resources130 conforms with the desired characteristics and performanceparameters. In some cases, network performance metrics might include,without limitation, at least one of quality of service (“QoS”)measurement data, platform resource data and metrics, service usagedata, topology and reference data, historical network data, or networkusage trend data, and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally,network performance metrics might include, but are not limited to, oneor more of information regarding at least one of latency, jitter,bandwidth, packet loss, nodal connectivity, compute resources, storageresources, memory capacity, routing, operations support systems (“OSS”),or business support systems (“BSS”) or information regarding at leastone of fault, configuration, accounting, performance, or security(“FCAPS”), and/or the like, which are described in greater detail in the'244 and '884 applications, which have already been incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety. The operations associated with metadatastriping and allocation (or re-allocation) of network resources aredescribed in greater detail in the '095, '244, and '884 applications,which have already been incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

In some embodiments, computing system 105 might allocate one or morenetwork resources 130 from one or more first networks 135 a-135 n of afirst set of networks 135 and/or from one or more second networks 140a-140 n of a second set of networks 140 for providing the requestednetwork services, based at least in part on the desired performanceparameters and/or based at least in part on a determination that the oneor more first networks is capable of providing network resources eachhaving the desired performance parameters. According to someembodiments, determination that the one or more first networks iscapable of providing network resources each having the desiredperformance parameters is based on one or more network performancemetrics of the one or more first networks at the time that the requestfor network services from a customer is received.

System 100 might further comprise one or more databases, including, butnot limited to, a platform resource database 165 a, a service usagedatabase 165 b, a topology and reference database 165 c, a QoSmeasurement database 165 d, and/or the like. The platform resourcedatabase 165 a might collect and store data related or pertaining toplatform resource data and metrics, or the like, while the service usagedatabase 165 b might collect and store data related or pertaining toservice usage data or service profile data, and the topology andreference database 165 c might collect and store data related orpertaining to topology and reference data. The QoS measurement database165 d might collect and store QoS data, network performance metrics,and/or results of the QoS test and validate process. Data stored in eachof at least one of the platform resource database 165 a, the serviceusage database 165 b, the topology and reference database 165 c, the QoSmeasurement database 165 d, and/or the like, collected in data lake 170,and the collective data or selected data from the data lake 170 are usedto perform optimization of network resource allocation (both physicaland/or virtual) using the computing system 105 (and, in some cases,using an orchestration optimization engine (e.g., orchestrationoptimization engine 275 of FIG. 2 of the '244 and '884 applications), orthe like).

In some embodiments, determining whether each of the identified one ormore network resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters might comprise determining, with the audit engine160, whether each of the identified one or more network resourcesconforms with the desired characteristics and performance parameters ona periodic basis or in response to a request to perform an audit.Alternatively, or additionally, determining whether each of theidentified one or more network resources conforms with the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters might comprise determining,with the audit engine, whether each of the identified one or morenetwork resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters, by: measuring one or more network performancemetrics of each of the identified one or more network resources;comparing, with the audit engine, the measured one or more networkperformance metrics of each of the identified one or more networkresources with the desired performance parameters; determiningcharacteristics of each of the identified one or more network resources;and comparing, with the audit engine, the determined characteristics ofeach of the identified one or more network resources with the desiredcharacteristics.

Based on a determination that at least one identified network resourceamong the identified one or more network resources fails to conform withthe desired performance parameters within first predetermined thresholdsor based on a determination that the determined characteristics of theat least one identified network resource fails to conform with thedesired characteristics within second predetermined thresholds, thecomputing system 105 might perform one of: reconfiguring the at leastone identified network resource to provide the desired characteristicsand performance parameters; or reallocating at least one otheridentified network resources among the identified one or more networkresources for providing the requested network services. In some cases,the computing system 105 might perform one of reconfiguring the at leastone identified network resource or reallocating at least one otheridentified network resources, based on a determination that the measuredone or more network performance metrics of each of the identified one ormore network resources fails to match the desired performance parameterswithin third predetermined thresholds or based on a determination thatthe measured one or more network performance metrics of each of theidentified one or more network resources fails to match the desiredperformance parameters within fourth predetermined thresholds.

In some aspects, intent might further include, without limitation, pathintent, location intent, performance intent, time intent, and/or thelike. Path intent, for example, might include a requirement that networktraffic must be routed through a first particular geophysical location(e.g., a continent, a country, a region, a state, a province, a city, atown, a mountain range, etc.) and/or a requirement that network trafficmust not be routed through a second particular geophysical location, orthe like. In such cases, a service commission engine might either add(and/or mark as required) all paths through the first particulargeophysical location and all network resources that indicate that theyare located in the first particular geophysical location, or remove(and/or mark as excluded) all paths through the second particulargeophysical location and all network resources that indicate that theyare located in the second particular geophysical location. The servicecommission engine might use the required or non-excluded paths andnetwork resources to identify which paths and network resources toallocate to fulfill requested network services. In some embodiments, theactive inventory might be marked so that any fix or repair action isalso restricted and that policy audits might be implemented to ensure noviolations of path intent actually occur.

Location intent, for instance, might include a requirement that networkresources that are used for fulfilling the requested network servicesare located in specific geographical locations (which are more specificcompared to the general geophysical locations described above). In suchcases, the inventory is required to include the metadata for the intent,then the service engine can perform the filtering and selection.Monitoring and/or restricting assets being reassigned may be performedusing location intent policy markings (or metadata) on the service.

Performance intent, for example, might include a requirement that therequested services satisfy particular performance parameters ormetrics—which might include, without limitation, maximum latency ordelay, maximum jitter, maximum packet loss, maximum number of hops,minimum bandwidth, nodal connectivity, minimum amount of computeresources for each allocated network resource, minimum amount of storageresources for each allocated network resource, minimum memory capacityfor each allocated network resource, fastest possible path, and/or thelike. In such cases, service conformance engine might use theperformance metrics (as measured by one or more nodes in the network,which in some cases might include the allocated network resource itself,or the like) between points (or network nodes) for filtering thecompliant inventory options, and/or might propose higher levels ofservice to satisfy the customer and/or cost level alignment, or thelike. Once the assignment portion of the engine has been performed, theactive inventory might be marked with the appropriate performance intentpolicy.

Time intent, for instance, might include a requirement that therequested services take into account conditions related to time of day(e.g., morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, etc.), special days(e.g., holidays, snow days, storm days, etc.), weeks of the year (e.g.,around holidays, etc.), etc., based at least in part on baseline ornormality analyses of average or typical conditions.

In some embodiments, a SS7 advanced intelligence framework (which mighthave a local number portability dip to get instructions from an externaladvanced intelligence function) can be adapted with intent-basedorchestration (as described herein) by putting a trigger (e.g., anexternal data dip, or the like) on the orchestrator between therequesting device or node (where the intent and intent criteria might besent) and the source of the external function, which might scrape theinventory database to make its instructions and/or solution sets for thefulfillment engine and then stripe metadata, and/or returns that to thenormal fulfillment engine.

Alternatively, or additionally, according to some embodiments, thecomputing system 105 might receive, over a network (e.g., at least oneof service provider network 110, access network 125, one or more firstnetworks 135 a-135 n, and/or one or more second networks 140 a-140 n, orthe like), a request for network services from a customer (e.g.,customer 115, or the like), the request for network services comprisingdesired characteristics and performance parameters for the requestednetwork services, without information regarding any of specifichardware, specific hardware type, specific location, or specific networkfor providing the requested network services. The computing system 105might identify two or more network resources (e.g., network resources130, or the like) from two or more first networks (e.g., network 135and/or network 140, or the like) capable of providing the requestednetwork services, based at least in part on the desired characteristicsand performance parameters for the requested network services. Thecomputing system 105 might establish one or more optical transport links(e.g., optical transport 175, or the like; depicted in FIG. 1 aslong-dash lines, or the like) between the identified two or more networkresources, the identified two or more network resources beingdisaggregated and distributed network resources. According to someembodiments, establishing the one or more optical transport linksbetween the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources might comprise utilizing light steered transport to establishthe one or more optical transport links (e.g., optical transport 175)between the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources 130. Although FIG. 1 shows the use of optical transport links,the various embodiments are not so limited, and other transport links orother forms of network connectivity may be used (e.g., network transportlinks, wired transport links, or wireless transport links, and/or thelike). In some embodiments, the computing system 105 might derivedistributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links.

The computing system 105 might configure at least one network resourceof the identified two or more network resources to perform at least oneof simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identifiedtwo or more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state. The computing system 105might allocate the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services. In some cases, based on adetermination that a resource or parameter is not available or based ona determination that no resources or parameters are available to meet anintent (based on a customer desired requirement or the like), thecomputing system 105 might perform one of: reconfiguring the at leastone identified network resource to provide the desired characteristicsand performance parameters; or reallocating at least one otheridentified network resources among the identified one or more networkresources for providing the requested network services; and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, deriving the distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links, and/or the like, mightcomprise the computing system 105 performing one of: comparing systemclocks each associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the system clocks; or comparing twoor more Qbit multi-states of two or more quantum timing systemsassociated with at least two of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the two or more Qbit multi-statesof each quantum timing system.

With respect to the latter set of embodiments, timing source andpropagation is no longer predicated on dedicated links, or on existingatomic structure while still allowing for interface with atomic-basedsources utilizing legacy network timing alignment. Quantum-based timingor quantum timing leverages the multi-state ability of multiple Q-bitsto provide plesiochronous as well as isochronous timings. Here,plesiochronous timing may refer to almost, but not quite, perfectlysynchronized events, systems, or signals, with significant instantsoccurring at nominally the same rate across plesiochronous events,systems, or signals. Isochronous timing may refer to events, systems, orsignals in which any two corresponding transitions occurs are regular orequal time intervals (i.e., where the time interval separating any twocorresponding transitions is equal to the unit interval (or a multiplethereof) where phase may be arbitrary and may vary). In someembodiments, isochronous burst transmission may be implemented, wheresuch transmission is capable of ordering traffic with or without the useof dedicated timing distribution facilities between devices or betweengeographic locations. In some instances, where the information-bearerchannel rate is higher than either the input data signaling rate or theoutput data signaling rate, isochronous burst transmission may beperformed by interrupting, at controlled intervals, the data streambeing transmitter. In some cases, a comparator software running with (oron) the compute structure may be used to compare two or more Q-bitmulti-states with a local oscillator to derive distributablesynchronization across a backplane of a network(s) and/or across opticaltransmission networks, or the like. Accordingly, quantum timing mayallow for distributed timing as well as the ability to flex timeequipment buffers and the network(s) to speed up or slow down the flowof traffic.

In some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources might compriseusing a re-timer (e.g., re-timer 185, or the like) to simulate zerolatency or near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources 130, based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state. In the case that quantum timing is implemented,such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s) disposed on (orcommunicatively coupled to) the re-timer. Alternatively, oradditionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater (e.g., re-driver 190, or the like) to simulatezero distance or near-zero distance between the identified two or morenetwork resources 130, based at least in part on the deriveddistributable synchronization state. In the case that quantum timing isimplemented, such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s)disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the re-driver or repeater.Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources orsimulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources might comprise utilizing a buffer (notshown in FIG. 1 ) with flexible buffer capacity to simulate zero latencyor near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources or to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources 130, based at least in part onthe derived distributable synchronization state. In the case thatquantum timing is implemented, such may be implemented using a quantumtiming system(s) disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the buffer.

According to some embodiments, the computing system 105 might map aplurality of network resources within the two or more first networks130. In some cases, identifying the two or more network resources mightcomprise identifying the two or more network resources from the two ormore first networks capable of providing the requested network services,based at least in part on the desired characteristics and performanceparameters for the requested network services and based at least in parton the mapping of the plurality of network resources. In some instances,at least one of identifying the two or more network resources, mappingthe plurality of network resources, or configuring the at least onenetwork resource of the identified two or more network resources mightbe performed using at least one of one or more artificial intelligence(“AI”) systems (e.g., AI system 180, or the like), one or more machinelearning systems, or one or more software defined network (“SDN”)systems, and/or the like. In some cases, the one or more AI systems mayalso be used to assist in assigning resources and/or managingintent-based curation or composability process.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightinclude, without limitation, peripheral component interconnect(“PCI”)-based network cards each comprising one or more networkinterface cards (“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphicsprocessing units (“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices, and/or thelike. Alternatively, or additionally, the identified two or more networkresources might include, but is not limited to, two or more generic orsingle-purpose network devices in place of specialized or all-purposenetwork devices. In some non-limiting examples, two or more tiny serversor server blades might be curated or composed to function and simulate asingle large server, or the like.

According to some embodiments, allocating the two or more networkresources from the two or more first networks for providing therequested network services might comprise providing the two or morefirst networks with access over the one or more optical transport linksto one or more virtual network functions (“VNFs”) for use by thecustomer, the one or more VNFs providing the two or more networkresources having the desired performance parameters. In some instances,providing access to the one or more VNFs might comprise bursting, usingan application programming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one ormore network functions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two ormore first networks.

In some aspects, the various embodiments provide disaggregated anddistributed composable infrastructure. The various embodiments also adda layer of composability by using different AI systems to treat certaindata with priority and/or by using curation or composability (whichmight include, without limitation, geo composability, resourcecomposability, network composability, and/or the like) based at least inpart on path intent, location intent, performance intent, time intent,and/or the like (collectively referred to as “intent-based curation orcomposability” or the like). The various embodiments utilize thecomposability or orchestration to enable dynamic allocation orcomposability of compute and/or network resources. The variousembodiments further utilize two or more generic or single-purposenetwork devices in place of specialized or all-purpose network devices,and as such reduces the cost of network resources and thus reducing thecost of allocation of network resources, while avoiding wasted potentialor unused portions of the network resources when allocating saidresources to customers. The various embodiments also simulate zerolatency or near-zero latency between two or more network resources orsimulate zero distance or near-zero distance between the two or morenetwork resources while utilizing optical transport, and also configurethe two or more network resources as a combined or integrated networkresource despite the two or more network resources being disaggregatedand distributed network resources.

These and other functions of the system 100 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-5 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another system 200 forimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure, in accordance with various embodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2 , system 200 might comprise amain hub 205, first through N^(th) ring hubs 210 a-210 n (collectively,“ring hubs 210” or the like), first through N^(th) remote hubs 215 a-215n (collectively, “remote hubs 215” or the like), a plurality ofuniversal customer premises equipment (“UCPEs”) 220 or 220 a-220 n thatare located at corresponding customer premises 225 or 225 a-225 n, aplurality of network resources 230, computing system 235, host or main240, and optical transport or optical transport links 245. Although FIG.2 depicts a particular example of the configuration or arrangement ofthe main hub 205, the ring hubs 210, the remote hubs 215, and the UPCEs220 in customer premises 220, the various embodiments are not solimited, and the configuration or arrangement may be any suitableconfiguration or arrangement of the main hub 205, the remote hubs 210,and the UPCEs 215 in customer premises 220, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the main hub 205 might communicatively couple tothe ring hubs 210 a-210 n in a ring configuration in which the main hub205 might communicatively couple directly or indirectly to the firstring hub 210 a, which might communicatively couple directly orindirectly to the second ring hub 210 b, which might communicativelycouple directly or indirectly to the next ring hub and so on until theN^(th) ring hub 210 n, which might in turn communicatively couple backto the main hub 205, where the main hub 205 might be located in ageographic location that is different from the geographic location ofeach of the ring hubs 210 a-210 n, each of which is in turn located in ageographic location that is different from the geographic location ofeach of the other ring hubs 210 a-210 n. Each ring hub 210 might becommunicatively coupled (in a hub and spoke configuration, or the like)to a plurality of UCPEs 220, each of which might be located at acustomer premises 225 among a plurality of customer premises 225. Insome instances, customer premises 225 might include, without limitation,customer residences, multi-dwelling units (“MDUs”), commercial customerpremises, industrial customer premises, and/or the like, within one ormore blocks of customer premises (e.g., residential neighborhoods,university/college campuses, office blocks, industrial parks, mixed-usezoning areas, and/or the like), in which roadways and/or pathways mightbe adjacent to each of the customer premises.

According to some embodiments, the main hub 205 might communicativelycouple to the remote hubs 215 a-215 n in a hub and spoke configurationin which the main hub 205 might communicatively couple directly orindirectly to each of the first through N^(th) remote hubs 215 a-215 n,where the main hub 205 might be located in a geographic location that isdifferent from the geographic location of each of the remote hubs 215a-215 n, each of which is in turn located in a geographic location thatis different from the geographic location of each of the other remotehubs 215 a-215 n. Each remote hub 215 might be communicatively coupled(in a hub and spoke configuration, or the like) to a plurality of UCPEs220, each of which might be located at a customer premises 225 among aplurality of customer premises 225.

In some embodiments, the main hub 205 and/or the network resources 230disposed on the main hub 205 might communicatively couple to the ringhubs 210 a-210 n in the ring configuration via optical transport oroptical transport links 245 (depicted in FIG. 2 as long-dash lines, orthe like), and, in some cases, each ring hub 210 and/or the networkresources 230 disposed on each ring hub 210 might communicatively couple(in a hub and spoke configuration, or the like) to the UCPEs 220 locatedat corresponding customer premises 225 via corresponding opticaltransport or optical transport links 245 (depicted in FIG. 2 aslong-dash lines, or the like).

According to some embodiments, the main hub 205 and/or the networkresources 230 disposed on the main hub 205 might communicatively coupleto the remote hubs 215 a-215 n in the hub and spoke configuration viaoptical transport or optical transport links 245 (depicted in FIG. 2 aslong-dash lines, or the like), and, in some cases, each remote hub 215and/or the network resources 230 disposed on each remote hub 215 mightcommunicatively couple (in a hub and spoke configuration, or the like)to the UCPEs 220 located at corresponding customer premises 225 viacorresponding optical transport or optical transport links 245 (depictedin FIG. 2 as long-dash lines, or the like).

In operation, the computing system 235 might receive, over a network(e.g., at least one of service provider network 110, access network 125,one or more first networks 135 a-135 n, and/or one or more secondnetworks 140 a-140 n of FIG. 1 , or the like), a request for networkservices from a customer (e.g., customer 115 of FIG. 1 , or the like),the request for network services comprising desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,specific location, or specific network for providing the requestednetwork services. The computing system 235 might identify two or morenetwork resources (e.g., network resources 230, or the like) from two ormore first networks (e.g., network 135 and/or network 140 of FIG. 1 , orthe like) capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services. The computing system 235 mightestablish one or more optical transport links (e.g., optical transport245, or the like; depicted in FIG. 2 as long-dash lines, or the like)between the identified two or more network resources, the identified twoor more network resources being disaggregated and distributed networkresources. According to some embodiments, establishing the one or moreoptical transport links between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources might comprise utilizing lightsteered transport to establish the one or more optical transport links(e.g., optical transport 245) between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources 230. Although FIG. 2 shows theuse of optical transport links, the various embodiments are not solimited, and other transport links or other forms of networkconnectivity may be used (e.g., network transport links, wired transportlinks, or wireless transport links, and/or the like). In someembodiments, the computing system 235 might derive distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links.

The desired performance parameters, in some embodiments, might include,but is not limited to, at least one of a maximum latency, a maximumjitter, a maximum packet loss, or a maximum number of hops, performanceparameters defined in a service level agreement (“SLA”) associated withthe customer or performance parameters defined in terms of naturalresource usage, quality of service (“QoS”) measurement data, platformresource data and metrics, service usage data, topology and referencedata, historical network data, network usage trend data, or one or moreof information regarding at least one of latency, jitter, bandwidth,packet loss, nodal connectivity, compute resources, storage resources,memory capacity, routing, operations support systems (“OSS”), orbusiness support systems (“BSS”) or information regarding at least oneof fault, configuration, accounting, performance, or security (“FCAPS”),and/or the like.

The desired characteristics, according to some embodiments, mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of requirement for networkequipment to be geophysically proximate to the customer, requirement fornetwork equipment to be located within a geophysical location,requirement to avoid routing network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to route network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer, and/or the like.

The computing system 235 might configure at least one network resourceof the identified two or more network resources to perform at least oneof simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identifiedtwo or more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state. The computing system 235might allocate the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

According to some embodiments, deriving the distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links, and/or the like, mightcomprise the computing system 235 performing one of: comparing systemclocks each associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the system clocks; or comparing twoor more Qbit multi-states of two or more quantum timing systemsassociated with at least two of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the two or more Qbit multi-statesof each quantum timing system.

With respect to the latter set of embodiments, timing source andpropagation is no longer predicated on dedicated links, or on existingatomic structure while still allowing for interface with atomic-basedsources utilizing legacy network timing alignment. Quantum-based timingor quantum timing leverages the multi-state ability of multiple Q-bitsto provide plesiochronous as well as isochronous timings. Here,plesiochronous timing may refer to almost, but not quite, perfectlysynchronized events, systems, or signals, with significant instantsoccurring at nominally the same rate across plesiochronous events,systems, or signals. Isochronous timing may refer to events, systems, orsignals in which any two corresponding transitions occurs are regular orequal time intervals (i.e., where the time interval separating any twocorresponding transitions is equal to the unit interval (or a multiplethereof) where phase may be arbitrary and may vary). In someembodiments, isochronous burst transmission may be implemented, wheresuch transmission is capable of ordering traffic with or without the useof dedicated timing distribution facilities between devices or betweengeographic locations. In some instances, where the information-bearerchannel rate is higher than either the input data signaling rate or theoutput data signaling rate, isochronous burst transmission may beperformed by interrupting, at controlled intervals, the data streambeing transmitter. In some cases, a comparator software running with (oron) the compute structure may be used to compare two or more Q-bitmulti-states with a local oscillator to derive distributablesynchronization across a backplane of a network(s) and/or across opticaltransmission networks, or the like. Accordingly, quantum timing mayallow for distributed timing as well as the ability to flex timeequipment buffers and the network(s) to speed up or slow down the flowof traffic.

In some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources might compriseusing a re-timer (e.g., re-timer 185, or the like) to simulate zerolatency or near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources 230, based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state. In the case that quantum timing is implemented,such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s) disposed on (orcommunicatively coupled to) the re-timer. Alternatively, oradditionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater (e.g., re-driver 190, or the like) to simulatezero distance or near-zero distance between the identified two or morenetwork resources 230, based at least in part on the deriveddistributable synchronization state. In the case that quantum timing isimplemented, such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s)disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the re-driver or repeater.Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources orsimulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources might comprise utilizing a buffer (notshown in FIG. 3 ) with flexible buffer capacity to simulate zero latencyor near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources or to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources 230, based at least in part onthe derived distributable synchronization state. In the case thatquantum timing is implemented, such may be implemented using a quantumtiming system(s) disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the buffer.

According to some embodiments, the computing system 235 might map aplurality of network resources within the two or more first networks. Insome cases, identifying the two or more network resources might compriseidentifying the two or more network resources from the two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on themapping of the plurality of network resources. In some instances, atleast one of identifying the two or more network resources, mapping theplurality of network resources, or configuring the at least one networkresource of the identified two or more network resources might beperformed using at least one of one or more artificial intelligence(“AI”) systems (e.g., AI system 180 of FIG. 1 , or the like), one ormore machine learning systems, or one or more software defined network(“SDN”) systems, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightinclude, without limitation, peripheral component interconnect(“PCI”)-based network cards each comprising one or more networkinterface cards (“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphicsprocessing units (“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices (e.g.,non-volatile memory (“NVM”) devices, NVM express (“NVMe”) devices,optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like),and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the identified two ormore network resources might include, but is not limited to, two or moregeneric or single-purpose network devices in place of specialized orall-purpose network devices.

According to some embodiments, allocating the two or more networkresources from the two or more first networks for providing therequested network services might comprise providing the two or morefirst networks with access over the one or more optical transport linksto one or more virtual network functions (“VNFs”) for use by thecustomer, the one or more VNFs providing the two or more networkresources having the desired performance parameters. In some instances,providing access to the one or more VNFs might comprise bursting, usingan application programming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one ormore network functions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two ormore first networks.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another system 300 forimplementing intent-based disaggregated and distributed composableinfrastructure, in accordance with various embodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3 , system 300 might comprise amain hub 305, one or more remote hubs 310 a-310 n (collectively, “remotehubs 310” or the like), a plurality of universal customer premisesequipment (“UCPEs”) 315 or 315 a-315 n that are located at correspondingcustomer premises 320 or 320 a-320 n, a computing system 325, aplurality of network resources 330, and optical transport or opticaltransport links 335 (depicted in FIG. 3 as long-dash lines, or thelike). Although FIG. 3 depicts a particular example of the configurationor arrangement of the main hub 305, the remote hubs 310, and the UPCEs315 in customer premises 320, the various embodiments are not solimited, and the configuration or arrangement may be as shown anddescribed in FIG. 2 , or may be any suitable configuration orarrangement of the main hub 305, the remote hubs 310, and the UPCEs 315in customer premises 320, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the main hub 305 might communicatively coupledirectly or indirectly to the remote hubs 310 a-310 n (either in thering configuration and/or the spoke and hub configuration as shown inFIG. 2 ), each of which might communicatively couple directly orindirectly to a plurality of UCPEs 315, each of which might be locatedat a customer premises 320 among a plurality of customer premises 320.In some instances, customer premises 320 might include, withoutlimitation, customer residences, multi-dwelling units (“MDUs”),commercial customer premises, industrial customer premises, and/or thelike, within one or more blocks of customer premises (e.g., residentialneighborhoods, university/college campuses, office blocks, industrialparks, mixed-use zoning areas, and/or the like), in which roadwaysand/or pathways might be adjacent to each of the customer premises.

According to some embodiments, the main hub 305 might communicativelycouple to the remote hubs 310 a-310 n in which the main hub 305 mightcommunicatively couple directly or indirectly (in either a ringconfiguration (as by the ring hubs 210 a-210 n, or the like) or a huband spoke configuration as shown in FIG. 2 , or the like) to each of thefirst through N^(th) remote hubs 310 a-310 n, where the main hub 305might be located in a geographic location that is different from thegeographic location of each of the remote hubs 310 a-310 n, each ofwhich is in turn located in a geographic location that is different fromthe geographic location of each of the other remote hubs 310 a-310 n.Each remote hub 310 might be communicatively coupled (in a ringconfiguration or in a hub and spoke configuration, or the like) to aplurality of UCPEs 315, each of which might be located at a customerpremises 320 among a plurality of customer premises 320.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, at least one of the networkresources 330 disposed in the main hub 305, the network resources 330disposed in the remote hub 310 a, the network resources 330 disposed inthe remote hub 310 b, and/or the like, might comprise a plurality ofnetwork resource units 330 a mounted in a plurality of equipment racksor ports 340. In some instances, the UPCE 315 a might comprise networkresources 330 including, but not limited to, two or more networkresource units 330 a. In some embodiments, the network resources 330might include, without limitation, one or more network interface cards(“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphics processing units(“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices (e.g., non-volatile memory(“NVM”) devices, NVM express (“NVMe”) devices, optical storage devices,magnetic storage devices, and/or the like), and/or the like.

In operation, the computing system 325 might receive, over a network(e.g., at least one of service provider network 110, access network 125,one or more first networks 135 a-135 n, and/or one or more secondnetworks 140 a-140 n of FIG. 1 , or the like), a request for networkservices from a customer (e.g., customer 115 of FIG. 1 , or the like),the request for network services comprising desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,specific location, or specific network for providing the requestednetwork services. The computing system 325 might identify two or morenetwork resources (e.g., network resources 330, or the like) from two ormore first networks (e.g., network 135 and/or network 140 of FIG. 1 , orthe like) capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services. The computing system 325 mightestablish one or more optical transport links (e.g., optical transport335, or the like; depicted in FIG. 3 as long-dash lines, or the like)between the identified two or more network resources, the identified twoor more network resources being disaggregated and distributed networkresources. According to some embodiments, establishing the one or moreoptical transport links between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources might comprise utilizing lightsteered transport to establish the one or more optical transport links(e.g., optical transport 335) between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources 330. Although FIG. 3 shows theuse of optical transport links, the various embodiments are not solimited, and other transport links or other forms of networkconnectivity may be used (e.g., network transport links, wired transportlinks, or wireless transport links, and/or the like). In someembodiments, the computing system 325 might derive distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links.

The desired performance parameters, in some embodiments, might include,but is not limited to, at least one of a maximum latency, a maximumjitter, a maximum packet loss, or a maximum number of hops, performanceparameters defined in a service level agreement (“SLA”) associated withthe customer or performance parameters defined in terms of naturalresource usage, quality of service (“QoS”) measurement data, platformresource data and metrics, service usage data, topology and referencedata, historical network data, network usage trend data, or one or moreof information regarding at least one of latency, jitter, bandwidth,packet loss, nodal connectivity, compute resources, storage resources,memory capacity, routing, operations support systems (“OSS”), orbusiness support systems (“BSS”) or information regarding at least oneof fault, configuration, accounting, performance, or security (“FCAPS”),and/or the like.

The desired characteristics, according to some embodiments, mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of requirement for networkequipment to be geophysically proximate to the customer, requirement fornetwork equipment to be located within a geophysical location,requirement to avoid routing network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to route network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer, and/or the like.

The computing system 325 might configure at least one network resourceof the identified two or more network resources to perform at least oneof simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identifiedtwo or more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state. The computing system 325might allocate the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

According to some embodiments, deriving the distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links, and/or the like, mightcomprise the computing system 325 performing one of: comparing systemclocks each associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the system clocks; or comparing twoor more Qbit multi-states of two or more quantum timing systemsassociated with at least two of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the two or more Qbit multi-statesof each quantum timing system.

With respect to the latter set of embodiments, timing source andpropagation is no longer predicated on dedicated links, or on existingatomic structure while still allowing for interface with atomic-basedsources utilizing legacy network timing alignment. Quantum-based timingor quantum timing leverages the multi-state ability of multiple Q-bitsto provide plesiochronous as well as isochronous timings. Here,plesiochronous timing may refer to almost, but not quite, perfectlysynchronized events, systems, or signals, with significant instantsoccurring at nominally the same rate across plesiochronous events,systems, or signals. Isochronous timing may refer to events, systems, orsignals in which any two corresponding transitions occurs are regular orequal time intervals (i.e., where the time interval separating any twocorresponding transitions is equal to the unit interval (or a multiplethereof) where phase may be arbitrary and may vary). In someembodiments, isochronous burst transmission may be implemented, wheresuch transmission is capable of ordering traffic with or without the useof dedicated timing distribution facilities between devices or betweengeographic locations. In some instances, where the information-bearerchannel rate is higher than either the input data signaling rate or theoutput data signaling rate, isochronous burst transmission may beperformed by interrupting, at controlled intervals, the data streambeing transmitter. In some cases, a comparator software running with (oron) the compute structure may be used to compare two or more Q-bitmulti-states with a local oscillator to derive distributablesynchronization across a backplane of a network(s) and/or across opticaltransmission networks, or the like. Accordingly, quantum timing mayallow for distributed timing as well as the ability to flex timeequipment buffers and the network(s) to speed up or slow down the flowof traffic.

In some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources might compriseusing a re-timer (e.g., re-timer 345, or the like) to simulate zerolatency or near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources 330, based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state. In the case that quantum timing is implemented,such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s) disposed on (orcommunicatively coupled to) the re-timer. Alternatively, oradditionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater (e.g., re-driver 350, or the like) to simulatezero distance or near-zero distance between the identified two or morenetwork resources 330, based at least in part on the deriveddistributable synchronization state. In the case that quantum timing isimplemented, such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s)disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the re-driver or repeater.Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources orsimulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources might comprise utilizing a buffer (notshown in FIG. 3 ) with flexible buffer capacity to simulate zero latencyor near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources or to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources 330, based at least in part onthe derived distributable synchronization state. In the case thatquantum timing is implemented, such may be implemented using a quantumtiming system(s) disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the buffer.

According to some embodiments, the computing system 325 might map aplurality of network resources within the two or more first networks. Insome cases, identifying the two or more network resources might compriseidentifying the two or more network resources from the two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on themapping of the plurality of network resources. In some instances, atleast one of identifying the two or more network resources, mapping theplurality of network resources, or configuring the at least one networkresource of the identified two or more network resources might beperformed using at least one of one or more artificial intelligence(“AI”) systems (e.g., AI system 180 of FIG. 1 , or the like), one ormore machine learning systems, or one or more software defined network(“SDN”) systems, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightinclude, without limitation, peripheral component interconnect(“PCI”)-based network cards each comprising one or more networkinterface cards (“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphicsprocessing units (“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices (e.g.,non-volatile memory (“NVM”) devices, NVM express (“NVMe”) devices,optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like),and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the identified two ormore network resources might include, but is not limited to, two or moregeneric or single-purpose network devices in place of specialized orall-purpose network devices. In some non-limiting examples, two or moretiny servers or server blades might be curated or composed to functionand simulate a single large server, or the like.

According to some embodiments, allocating the two or more networkresources from the two or more first networks for providing therequested network services might comprise providing the two or morefirst networks with access over the one or more optical transport linksto one or more virtual network functions (“VNFs”) for use by thecustomer, the one or more VNFs providing the two or more networkresources having the desired performance parameters. In some instances,providing access to the one or more VNFs might comprise bursting, usingan application programming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one ormore network functions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two ormore first networks.

In some embodiments, such as shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 3, identifying the two or more network resources capable of providing therequested network services might comprise identifying a first generic orsingle-purpose network device 330 b in a first slot or first rack 340among the network resources 330 disposed at the main hub 305,identifying a second generic or single-purpose network device 330 c in asecond slot or second rack 340 among the network resources 330 disposedat the main hub 305, identifying a third generic or single-purposenetwork device 330 d in a second slot or second rack 340 among thenetwork resources 330 disposed at the first remote hub 310 a,identifying a fourth generic or single-purpose network device 330 e inan N^(th) slot or N^(th) rack 340 among the network resources 330disposed at the second remote hub 310 b, and identifying a fifth genericor single-purpose network device 330 f among the network resources 330disposed at the UPCE 315 a of customer premises 320 a, or the like. Thecomputing system 325 might utilize the re-timer 345 functionality tosimulate zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified two ormore network resources and/or utilize re-driver (or repeater) 350functionality to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance betweenthe identified two or more network resources, and/or the like, over theoptical transport links 335, resulting effectively in the first throughfifth generic or single-purpose network devices 330 b-330 f beingconfigured as if they were contained within a virtual slot or virtualrack 340′ (such operation being shown at the distal end of arrow 355 inFIG. 3 ).

FIGS. 4A-4C (collectively, “FIG. 4 ”) are schematic diagramsillustrating various non-limiting examples 400, 400′, and 400″ ofimplementing intent-based service configuration, service conformance,and/or service auditing that may be applicable to implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure, inaccordance to various embodiments.

In the non-limiting example 400 of FIG. 4A, a plurality of nodes 405might include, without limitation, node A 405 a, node B 405 b, node C405 c, node D 405 d, node E 405 e, node F 405 f, node G 405 g, node H405 h, and/or the like. The system might further comprise ME node 410.The system might further comprise paths A through K, with path A betweennode A 405 a and node B 405 b, path B between node B 405 b and node C405 c, path C between node C 405 c and node D 405 d, path D between nodeD 405 d and node E 405 e, path E between node E 405 e and node F 405 f,path F between node F 405 f and node G 405 g, path G between node G 405g and node H 405 h, path H between node H 405 h and node A 405 a, path Jbetween node H 405 h and node C 405 c, path K between node A 405 a andnode E 405 e, and/or the like. The system might further comprise a pathbetween the ME node 410 and one of the nodes 405 (e.g., node E 405 e, orthe like). Here, each node 405 might be a network resource or mightinclude a network resource(s), or the like.

Here, the intent framework might require a named goal that includesstandardized criteria that may be a relationship between two items. Forexample, the named goal (or intent) might include, without limitation,lowest delay (where the criteria might be delay), least number of hops(where the criteria might be hops), proximity to me (in this case, theME node 410; where the criteria might be geographical proximity,geophysical proximity, distance, etc.). In some embodiments, two or moregoals (or intents) might be combined. In all cases, the criteria mightbe added or striped via metadata into the inventory database (e.g.,databases 145, 150, 155, and/or 170 of FIG. 1 , or the like) and mightbe used for node and/or resource selection or deselection. Ingoal-oriented implementation, prioritization striping might be appliedfor the fulfillment engine to be considered, possibly along withselection or deselection criteria.

In some cases, where goal-oriented intent is established, the inventorydatabase might be augmented with tables that correlate with the “intent”criteria (such as shown in the delay table in FIG. 4A). For instance,the table might include intent (in this case, delay represented by theletter “D”), the path (e.g., path A through K, or the like), the delay(in this case, delay in milliseconds, or the like). Using the opticaltransport as shown and described with respect to FIGS. 1-3 , as well asthe re-timer and/or re-driver (or repeater) functionalities that zeroesout latency between two or more nodes 405 a-405 h and/or that simulateszero or near-zero distance between two or more nodes 405 a-405 h despitethe actual physical or geographic distances, respectively (as depictedin the table by the “re-timed delay” being set to, or measured orestimated at, 150 ns, 120 ns, 80 ns, 40 ns, 70 ns, 100 ns, 130 ns, 80,ns, 320 ns, and 550 ns along paths A-K, respectively, between two ormore nodes 405 a-405 h). Although the re-timed delay in FIG. 4A is shownin nanoseconds, the various embodiments are not so limited, and there-timed delay may be in microseconds or milliseconds, or, in somecases, may be tunable as desired (e.g., with a tunable re-timed delay ofbetween about 500 nanosecond and about 1 microsecond, or the like). Forexample, in the case of digital signal processors (“DSPs”) on peripheralcomponent interconnect (“PCI”) cards or DSPs on graphics processingunits (“GPUs”), or the like, tunable re-timed delays may be implemented.

With reference to the non-limiting example 400′ of FIG. 4B, intent-basedservice configuration (at block 415) might include, without limitation,exclusion intent, intrusion intent, and goal-oriented intent, or thelike. In some embodiments, the exclusion intent (as indicated at block420) might refer to intent or requirement not to fulfill network serviceusing the indicated types of resources (in this case, resources 435within a set of resources 430), while the inclusion intent (as indicatedat block 425) might refer to intent or requirement to fulfill serviceusing the indicated types of resources (in this case, resources 440within the set of resources 430), or the like.

Here, the exclusion and inclusion intents might modify the pool ofresources that the fulfillment process might pick from by removing(i.e., excluding) or limiting (i.e., including) the resources that canbe assigned to fulfill the service. Once this process is completed, thenthe normal fulfillment process continues on.

Referring to the non-limiting example 400″ of FIG. 4C, according to someembodiments, the goal-oriented intent might include a single goal (asindicated at block 445) or a multi-goal (as indicated at block 450). Insome cases, the single goal might, for instance, provide a “priority” tothe resources that are assigned within that service class. For example,the single goal might include a priority to require low delay, forinstance. In some instance, the multi-goal might, for example, providematrix priorities to the resource pool assignment based on a fast matrixrecursion process, or the like. In some embodiments, with goal-orientedintent, the user might apply one or more goals to the engine that thenperforms a single or matrix recursion to identify the best resources tomeet the intent, and either passes a candidate list to the fulfillmentengineer or stripes the inventory for the specific choice being made.Subsequently, fulfillment might continue.

In some cases, the set of resources 430′ (as shown in FIG. 4C) mightinclude resources 1 through 7 455. In one example, a single goal mightprovide, for instance, priority to resource 1 that is assigned withinthat service class (as depicted by the arrow between block 445 andresource 1 in FIG. 4C), or the like. In another example, a multi-goalmight provide matrix priorities to the resource pool (including, withoutlimitation, resources 2-4, or the like) that are assigned based on afast matrix recursion process (as depicted by the arrows between block450 and resources 2-4 in FIG. 4C), or the like.

FIGS. 5A-5D (collectively, “FIG. 5 ”) are flow diagrams illustrating amethod 500 for implementing intent-based disaggregated and distributedcomposable infrastructure, in accordance with various embodiments.

While the techniques and procedures are depicted and/or described in acertain order for purposes of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat certain procedures may be reordered and/or omitted within the scopeof various embodiments. Moreover, while the method 500 illustrated byFIG. 5 can be implemented by or with (and, in some cases, are describedbelow with respect to) the systems, examples, or embodiments 100, 200,300, 400, 400′, and 400″ of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C respectively(or components thereof), such methods may also be implemented using anysuitable hardware (or software) implementation. Similarly, while each ofthe systems, examples, or embodiments 100, 200, 300, 400, 400′, and 400″of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C, respectively (or components thereof),can operate according to the method 500 illustrated by FIG. 5 (e.g., byexecuting instructions embodied on a computer readable medium), thesystems, examples, or embodiments 100, 200, 300, 400, 400′, and 400″ ofFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C can each also operate according to othermodes of operation and/or perform other suitable procedures.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 5A, method 500, at block 505,might comprise receiving, with a computing system over a network, arequest for network services from a customer, the request for networkservices comprising desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services, without information regarding any ofspecific hardware, specific hardware type, specific location, orspecific network for providing the requested network services. Atoptional block 510, method 500 might comprise mapping, with computingsystem, a plurality of network resources within the two or more firstnetworks.

Method 500 might further comprise, at block 515, identifying, with thecomputing system, two or more network resources from two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services (and, in some cases, based at leastin part on the mapping of the plurality of network resources). Method500 might further comprise establishing, with the computing system, oneor more transport links between the identified two or more networkresources, the identified two or more network resources beingdisaggregated and distributed network resources (block 520). In somecases, the one or more transport links might comprise at least one ofone or more optical transport links, one or more network transportlinks, one or more wired transport links, or one or more wirelesstransport links, and/or the like (collectively, “network connectivity”or the like).

At block 525, method 500 might comprise deriving, with the computingsystem, distributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links,and/or the like. Method 500, at block 530, might comprise configuring,with the computing system, at least one network resource of theidentified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state. Method 500 might comprise,at block 535, allocating, with the computing system, the identified twoor more network resources for providing the requested network services.

Method 500, at optional block 540, might comprise determining, with anaudit engine, whether each of the identified two or more networkresources conforms with the desired characteristics and performanceparameters. Based on a determination that at least one identifiednetwork resource among the identified two or more network resourcesfails to conform with the desired performance parameters within firstpredetermined thresholds or based on a determination that the determinedcharacteristics of the at least one identified network resource fails toconform with the desired characteristics within second predeterminedthresholds, method 500 might further comprise one of: reconfiguring,with the computing system, the at least one identified network resourceto provide the desired characteristics and performance parameters(optional block 545); or reallocating, with the computing system, atleast one other identified network resources among the identified two ormore network resources for providing the requested network services(optional block 550).

Turning to FIG. 5B, deriving, with the computing system, distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links, and/or the like (at block525) may comprise comparing, with the computing system, system clockseach associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources (block 525 a); and deriving, with the computing system, thedistributable synchronization state based on any differences in thecomparison of the system clocks (block 525 b). Alternatively, deriving,with the computing system, distributable synchronization state across atleast one of the identified two or more network resources, a backplaneof one or more of the two or more first networks, or the one or moretransport links, and/or the like (at block 525) may comprise comparing,with the computing system, two or more Qbit multi-states of two or morequantum timing systems associated with at least two of the identifiedtwo or more network resources (block 525 c); and deriving, with thecomputing system, the distributable synchronization state based on anydifferences in the comparison of the two or more Qbit multi-states ofeach quantum timing system (block 525 d).

With reference to FIG. 5C, simulating zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources (at block 530 a)might comprise using a re-timer to simulate zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources (optionalblock 555), based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state. Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zerodistance or near-zero distance between the identified two or morenetwork resources (at block 530 b) might comprise using a re-driver or arepeater to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources (optional block 560), based atleast in part on the derived distributable synchronization state.Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources orsimulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources (at block 530 c) might comprise utilizinga buffer with flexible buffer capacity to simulate zero latency ornear-zero latency between the identified two or more network resourcesor to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources (optional block 565), based atleast in part on the derived distributable synchronization state.

Referring to FIG. 5D, determining whether each of the identified two ormore network resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters (at block 540) might comprise determining, withthe audit engine, whether each of the identified two or more networkresources conforms with the desired characteristics and performanceparameters on a periodic basis or in response to a request to perform anaudit (optional block 570). Alternatively, or additionally, determiningwhether each of the identified two or more network resources conformswith the desired characteristics and performance parameters (at block540) might comprise determining, with the audit engine, whether each ofthe identified two or more network resources conforms with the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters, by: measuring one or morenetwork performance metrics of each of the identified two or morenetwork resources (optional block 575); comparing, with the auditengine, the measured one or more network performance metrics of each ofthe identified two or more network resources with the desiredperformance parameters (optional block 580); determining characteristicsof each of the identified two or more network resources (optional block585); and comparing, with the audit engine, the determinedcharacteristics of each of the identified two or more network resourceswith the desired characteristics (optional block 590).

Exemplary System and Hardware Implementation

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 6provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system600 of the service provider system hardware that can perform the methodsprovided by various other embodiments, as described herein, and/or canperform the functions of computer or hardware system (i.e., computingsystems 105, 235, and 325, user devices 120 a-120 n, network resources130, quality of service (“QoS”) test and validate server and/or auditengine 160, main hub 205 and 305, ring hubs 210 a-210 n, remote hubs 215a-215 n, 310 a, and 310 b, universal customer premises equipment(“UCPEs”) 220 and 315 a, host/main 240, etc.), as described above. Itshould be noted that FIG. 6 is meant only to provide a generalizedillustration of various components, of which one or more (or none) ofeach may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 6 , therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer or hardware system 600—which might represent an embodimentof the computer or hardware system (i.e., computing systems 105, 235,and 325, user devices 120 a-120 n, network resources 130, QoS test andvalidate server and/or audit engine 160, main hub 205 and 305, ring hubs210 a-210 n, remote hubs 215 a-215 n, 310 a, and 310 b, UCPEs 220 and315 a, host/main 240, etc.), described above with respect to FIGS. 1-5—is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electrically coupledvia a bus 605 (or may otherwise be in communication, as appropriate).The hardware elements may include one or more processors 610, including,without limitation, one or more general-purpose processors and/or one ormore special-purpose processors (such as microprocessors, digital signalprocessing chips, graphics acceleration processors, and/or the like);one or more input devices 615, which can include, without limitation, amouse, a keyboard, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 620,which can include, without limitation, a display device, a printer,and/or the like.

The computer or hardware system 600 may further include (and/or be incommunication with) one or more storage devices 625, which can comprise,without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or caninclude, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, solid-state storage device such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Such storage devicesmay be configured to implement any appropriate data stores, including,without limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer or hardware system 600 might also include a communicationssubsystem 630, which can include, without limitation, a modem, a networkcard (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a WWAN device, cellularcommunication facilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communicationssubsystem 630 may permit data to be exchanged with a network (such asthe network described below, to name one example), with other computeror hardware systems, and/or with any other devices described herein. Inmany embodiments, the computer or hardware system 600 will furthercomprise a working memory 635, which can include a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above.

The computer or hardware system 600 also may comprise software elements,shown as being currently located within the working memory 635,including an operating system 640, device drivers, executable libraries,and/or other code, such as one or more application programs 645, whichmay comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments(including, without limitation, hypervisors, VMs, and the like), and/ormay be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, providedby other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, oneor more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussedabove might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be encoded and/or storedon a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as thestorage device(s) 625 described above. In some cases, the storage mediummight be incorporated within a computer system, such as the system 600.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (i.e., a removable medium, such as a compact disc,etc.), and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storagemedium can be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer or hardware system 600 and/or might take the form of sourceand/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation onthe computer or hardware system 600 (e.g., using any of a variety ofgenerally available compilers, installation programs,compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the form ofexecutable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware (such as programmable logic controllers,field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integratedcircuits, and/or the like) might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer or hardware system (such as the computer or hardware system600) to perform methods in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention. According to a set of embodiments, some or all of theprocedures of such methods are performed by the computer or hardwaresystem 600 in response to processor 610 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions (which might be incorporated into theoperating system 640 and/or other code, such as an application program645) contained in the working memory 635. Such instructions may be readinto the working memory 635 from another computer readable medium, suchas one or more of the storage device(s) 625. Merely by way of example,execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the workingmemory 635 might cause the processor(s) 610 to perform one or moreprocedures of the methods described herein.

The terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer or hardware system 600, various computerreadable media might be involved in providing instructions/code toprocessor(s) 610 for execution and/or might be used to store and/orcarry such instructions/code (e.g., as signals). In manyimplementations, a computer readable medium is a non-transitory,physical, and/or tangible storage medium. In some embodiments, acomputer readable medium may take many forms, including, but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, or the like. Non-volatile mediaincludes, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 625. Volatile media includes, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 635. In some alternativeembodiments, a computer readable medium may take the form oftransmission media, which includes, without limitation, coaxial cables,copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus605, as well as the various components of the communication subsystem630 (and/or the media by which the communications subsystem 630 providescommunication with other devices). In an alternative set of embodiments,transmission media can also take the form of waves (including withoutlimitation radio, acoustic, and/or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications).

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 610for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer or hardware system 600. Thesesignals, which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acousticsignals, optical signals, and/or the like, are all examples of carrierwaves on which instructions can be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

The communications subsystem 630 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 605 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 635, from which the processor(s) 605 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 635 may optionally be stored on a storage device 625 eitherbefore or after execution by the processor(s) 610.

As noted above, a set of embodiments comprises methods and systems forimplementing disaggregated composable infrastructure, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure.FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 700 that can be usedin accordance with one set of embodiments. The system 700 can includeone or more user computers, user devices, or customer devices 705. Auser computer, user device, or customer device 705 can be a generalpurpose personal computer (including, merely by way of example, desktopcomputers, tablet computers, laptop computers, handheld computers, andthe like, running any appropriate operating system, several of which areavailable from vendors such as Apple, Microsoft Corp., and the like),cloud computing devices, a server(s), and/or a workstation computer(s)running any of a variety of commercially-available UNIX™ or UNIX-likeoperating systems. A user computer, user device, or customer device 705can also have any of a variety of applications, including one or moreapplications configured to perform methods provided by variousembodiments (as described above, for example), as well as one or moreoffice applications, database client and/or server applications, and/orweb browser applications. Alternatively, a user computer, user device,or customer device 705 can be any other electronic device, such as athin-client computer, Internet-enabled mobile telephone, and/or personaldigital assistant, capable of communicating via a network (e.g., thenetwork(s) 710 described below) and/or of displaying and navigating webpages or other types of electronic documents. Although the exemplarysystem 700 is shown with two user computers, user devices, or customerdevices 705, any number of user computers, user devices, or customerdevices can be supported.

Certain embodiments operate in a networked environment, which caninclude a network(s) 710. The network(s) 710 can be any type of networkfamiliar to those skilled in the art that can support datacommunications using any of a variety of commercially-available (and/orfree or proprietary) protocols, including, without limitation, TCP/IP,SNA™, IPX™, AppleTalk™, and the like. Merely by way of example, thenetwork(s) 710 (similar to network(s) 110, 125, 135 a-135 n, and 140a-140 n of FIG. 1 , or the like) can each include a local area network(“LAN”), including, without limitation, a fiber network, an Ethernetnetwork, a Token-Ring™ network, and/or the like; a wide-area network(“WAN”); a wireless wide area network (“WWAN”); a virtual network, suchas a virtual private network (“VPN”); the Internet; an intranet; anextranet; a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”); an infra-rednetwork; a wireless network, including, without limitation, a networkoperating under any of the IEEE 802.11 suite of protocols, theBluetooth™ protocol known in the art, and/or any other wirelessprotocol; and/or any combination of these and/or other networks. In aparticular embodiment, the network might include an access network ofthe service provider (e.g., an Internet service provider (“ISP”)). Inanother embodiment, the network might include a core network of theservice provider, and/or the Internet.

Embodiments can also include one or more server computers 715. Each ofthe server computers 715 may be configured with an operating system,including, without limitation, any of those discussed above, as well asany commercially (or freely) available server operating systems. Each ofthe servers 715 may also be running one or more applications, which canbe configured to provide services to one or more clients 705 and/orother servers 715.

Merely by way of example, one of the servers 715 might be a data server,a web server, a cloud computing device(s), or the like, as describedabove. The data server might include (or be in communication with) a webserver, which can be used, merely by way of example, to process requestsfor web pages or other electronic documents from user computers 705. Theweb server can also run a variety of server applications, including HTTPservers, FTP servers, CGI servers, database servers, Java servers, andthe like. In some embodiments of the invention, the web server may beconfigured to serve web pages that can be operated within a web browseron one or more of the user computers 705 to perform methods of theinvention.

The server computers 715, in some embodiments, might include one or moreapplication servers, which can be configured with one or moreapplications accessible by a client running on one or more of the clientcomputers 705 and/or other servers 715. Merely by way of example, theserver(s) 715 can be one or more general purpose computers capable ofexecuting programs or scripts in response to the user computers 705and/or other servers 715, including, without limitation, webapplications (which might, in some cases, be configured to performmethods provided by various embodiments). Merely by way of example, aweb application can be implemented as one or more scripts or programswritten in any suitable programming language, such as Java™, C, C#™ orC++, and/or any scripting language, such as Perl, Python, or TCL, aswell as combinations of any programming and/or scripting languages. Theapplication server(s) can also include database servers, including,without limitation, those commercially available from Oracle™,Microsoft™, Sybase™, IBM™, and the like, which can process requests fromclients (including, depending on the configuration, dedicated databaseclients, API clients, web browsers, etc.) running on a user computer,user device, or customer device 705 and/or another server 715. In someembodiments, an application server can perform one or more of theprocesses for implementing disaggregated composable infrastructure, and,more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingintent-based disaggregated and distributed composable infrastructure, asdescribed in detail above. Data provided by an application server may beformatted as one or more web pages (comprising HTML, JavaScript, etc.,for example) and/or may be forwarded to a user computer 705 via a webserver (as described above, for example). Similarly, a web server mightreceive web page requests and/or input data from a user computer 705and/or forward the web page requests and/or input data to an applicationserver. In some cases, a web server may be integrated with anapplication server.

In accordance with further embodiments, one or more servers 715 canfunction as a file server and/or can include one or more of the files(e.g., application code, data files, etc.) necessary to implementvarious disclosed methods, incorporated by an application running on auser computer 705 and/or another server 715. Alternatively, as thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, a file server can include allnecessary files, allowing such an application to be invoked remotely bya user computer, user device, or customer device 705 and/or server 715.

It should be noted that the functions described with respect to variousservers herein (e.g., application server, database server, web server,file server, etc.) can be performed by a single server and/or aplurality of specialized servers, depending on implementation-specificneeds and parameters.

In certain embodiments, the system can include one or more databases 720a-720 n (collectively, “databases 720”). The location of each of thedatabases 720 is discretionary: merely by way of example, a database 720a might reside on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) aserver 715 a (and/or a user computer, user device, or customer device705). Alternatively, a database 720 n can be remote from any or all ofthe computers 705, 715, so long as it can be in communication (e.g., viathe network 710) with one or more of these. In a particular set ofembodiments, a database 720 can reside in a storage-area network (“SAN”)familiar to those skilled in the art. (Likewise, any necessary files forperforming the functions attributed to the computers 705, 715 can bestored locally on the respective computer and/or remotely, asappropriate.) In one set of embodiments, the database 720 can be arelational database, such as an Oracle database, that is adapted tostore, update, and retrieve data in response to SQL-formatted commands.The database might be controlled and/or maintained by a database server,as described above, for example.

According to some embodiments, system 700 might further comprisecomputing system 725 (similar to computing systems 105 of FIG. 1 , orthe like), quality of service (“QoS”) test and validate server or auditengine 730 (similar to QoS test and validate server or audit engine 160of FIG. 1 , or the like), one or more network resources 735 (similar tonetwork resources 130 of FIG. 1 , or the like), resource inventorydatabase 740 (similar to resource inventory databases 145, 215, and 305of FIGS. 1-3 , or the like), intent metadata database 745 (similar toresource inventory databases 150 and 220 of FIGS. 1 and 2 , or thelike), and active inventory database 750 (similar to resource inventorydatabases 155, 235, and 320 of FIGS. 1-3 , or the like).

In operation, computing system 725 might receive a request for networkservices from a customer (e.g., from user device 705 a or 705 b (whichmight correspond to user devices 120 a-120 n of FIG. 1 , or the like)).The request for network services might comprise desired characteristicsand performance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,or specific network for providing the requested network services.

The computing system 725 might analyze first metadata regarding resourceattributes and characteristics of a plurality of unassigned networkresources to identify one or more network resources among the pluralityof unassigned network resources for providing the requested networkservices, the first metadata having been striped to entries of theplurality of unassigned network resources in a resource database (e.g.,resource inventory database 740, or the like). Based on the analysis,the computing system 725 might allocate at least one identified networkresource among the identified one or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

The computing system 725 might update a service database by adding orupdating an entry in the service database (e.g., resource inventorydatabase 740 or intent metadata database 745, or the like) withinformation indicating that the at least one identified network resourcehave been allocated for providing the requested network services, andmight stripe the entry with second metadata (in some cases, in resourceinventory database 740, intent metadata database 745, or activeinventory database 750, or the like) indicative of the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters as comprised in the requestfor network services.

According to some embodiments, the desired performance parameters mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of a maximum latency, amaximum jitter, a maximum packet loss, or a maximum number of hops,and/or the like. In some embodiments, the desired characteristics mightinclude, but are not limited to, at least one of requirement for networkequipment to be geophysically proximate to the customer, requirement fornetwork equipment to be located within a geophysical location,requirement to avoid routing network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to route network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, the audit engine 730 mightdetermine whether each of the identified one or more network resourcesconforms with the desired characteristics and performance parameters. Insome instances, determining whether each of the identified one or morenetwork resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters might comprise determining, with the auditengine, whether each of the identified one or more network resourcesconforms with the desired characteristics and performance parameters ona periodic basis or in response to a request to perform an audit.Alternatively, determining whether each of the identified one or morenetwork resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters might comprise determining, with the auditengine, whether each of the identified one or more network resourcesconforms with the desired characteristics and performance parameters,by: measuring one or more network performance metrics of each of theidentified one or more network resources; comparing, with the auditengine, the measured one or more network performance metrics of each ofthe identified one or more network resources with the desiredperformance parameters; determining characteristics of each of theidentified one or more network resources; and comparing, with the auditengine, the determined characteristics of each of the identified one ormore network resources with the desired characteristics. Based on adetermination that at least one identified network resource among theidentified one or more network resources fails to conform with thedesired performance parameters within first predetermined thresholds orbased on a determination that the determined characteristics of the atleast one identified network resource fails to conform with the desiredcharacteristics within second predetermined thresholds, the computingsystem 725 might perform one of: reconfiguring the at least oneidentified network resource to provide the desired characteristics andperformance parameters; or reallocating at least one other identifiednetwork resources among the identified one or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

Alternatively, or additionally, according to some embodiments, thecomputing system 725 might receive, over a network (e.g., at least oneof service provider network(s) 710, or the like), a request for networkservices from a customer, the request for network services comprisingdesired characteristics and performance parameters for the requestednetwork services, without information regarding any of specifichardware, specific hardware type, specific location, or specific networkfor providing the requested network services. The computing system 725might identify two or more network resources (e.g., network resources735 a-735 n, or the like) from two or more first networks (e.g.,network(s) 710, or the like) capable of providing the requested networkservices, based at least in part on the desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services. The computingsystem 725 might establish one or more optical transport links (e.g.,optical transport 755, or the like; depicted in FIG. 7 as long-dashlines, or the like) between the identified two or more networkresources, the identified two or more network resources beingdisaggregated and distributed network resources. According to someembodiments, establishing the one or more optical transport linksbetween the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources might comprise utilizing light steered transport to establishthe one or more optical transport links (e.g., optical transport 755)between the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources 735 a-735 n. Although FIG. 7 shows the use of opticaltransport links, the various embodiments are not so limited, and othertransport links may be used (e.g., network transport links, wiredtransport links, or wireless transport links, and/or the like). In someembodiments, the computing system 725 might derive distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links.

The computing system 725 might configure at least one network resourceof the identified two or more network resources to perform at least oneof simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identifiedtwo or more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state. The computing system 725might allocate the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.

In some embodiments, the computing system 725 might map a plurality ofnetwork resources within the two or more first networks 735 a-735 n. Insome cases, identifying the two or more network resources might compriseidentifying the two or more network resources from the two or more firstnetworks capable of providing the requested network services, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on themapping of the plurality of network resources. In some instances, atleast one of identifying the two or more network resources, mapping theplurality of network resources, or configuring the at least one networkresource of the identified two or more network resources might beperformed using at least one of one or more artificial intelligence(“AI”) systems (e.g., AI system 760, or the like), one or more machinelearning systems, or one or more software defined network (“SDN”)systems, and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, deriving the distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links, and/or the like, mightcomprise the computing system 725 performing one of: comparing systemclocks each associated with each of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the system clocks; or comparing twoor more Qbit multi-states of two or more quantum timing systemsassociated with at least two of the identified two or more networkresources, and deriving the distributable synchronization state based onany differences in the comparison of the two or more Qbit multi-statesof each quantum timing system.

With respect to the latter set of embodiments, timing source andpropagation is no longer predicated on dedicated links, or on existingatomic structure while still allowing for interface with atomic-basedsources utilizing legacy network timing alignment. Quantum-based timingor quantum timing leverages the multi-state ability of multiple Q-bitsto provide plesiochronous as well as isochronous timings. Here,plesiochronous timing may refer to almost, but not quite, perfectlysynchronized events, systems, or signals, with significant instantsoccurring at nominally the same rate across plesiochronous events,systems, or signals. Isochronous timing may refer to events, systems, orsignals in which any two corresponding transitions occurs are regular orequal time intervals (i.e., where the time interval separating any twocorresponding transitions is equal to the unit interval (or a multiplethereof) where phase may be arbitrary and may vary). In someembodiments, isochronous burst transmission may be implemented, wheresuch transmission is capable of ordering traffic with or without the useof dedicated timing distribution facilities between devices or betweengeographic locations. In some instances, where the information-bearerchannel rate is higher than either the input data signaling rate or theoutput data signaling rate, isochronous burst transmission may beperformed by interrupting, at controlled intervals, the data streambeing transmitter. In some cases, a comparator software running with (oron) the compute structure may be used to compare two or more Q-bitmulti-states with a local oscillator to derive distributablesynchronization across a backplane of a network(s) and/or across opticaltransmission networks, or the like. Accordingly, quantum timing mayallow for distributed timing as well as the ability to flex timeequipment buffers and the network(s) to speed up or slow down the flowof traffic.

According to some embodiments, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources mightcomprise using a re-timer (e.g., re-timer 765, or the like) to simulatezero latency or near-zero latency between the identified two or morenetwork resources 735 a-735 n, based at least in part on the deriveddistributable synchronization state. In the case that quantum timing isimplemented, such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s)disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the re-timer. Alternatively,or additionally, simulating zero distance or near-zero distance betweenthe identified two or more network resources might comprise using are-driver or a repeater (e.g., re-driver 770, or the like) to simulatezero distance or near-zero distance between the identified two or morenetwork resources 735 a-735 n, based at least in part on the deriveddistributable synchronization state. In the case that quantum timing isimplemented, such may be implemented using a quantum timing system(s)disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) the re-driver or repeater.Alternatively, or additionally, simulating zero latency or near-zerolatency between the identified two or more network resources orsimulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources might comprise utilizing a buffer (notshown in FIG. 7 ) with flexible buffer capacity to simulate zero latencyor near-zero latency between the identified two or more networkresources or to simulate zero distance or near-zero distance between theidentified two or more network resources 735 a-735 n, based at least inpart on the derived distributable synchronization state. In the casethat quantum timing is implemented, such may be implemented using aquantum timing system(s) disposed on (or communicatively coupled to) thebuffer.

In some embodiments, the identified two or more network resources mightinclude, without limitation, peripheral component interconnect(“PCI”)-based network cards each comprising one or more networkinterface cards (“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphicsprocessing units (“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices (e.g.,non-volatile memory (“NVM”) devices, NVM express (“NVMe”) devices,optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like),and/or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the identified two ormore network resources might include, but is not limited to, two or moregeneric or single-purpose network devices in place of specialized orall-purpose network devices.

According to some embodiments, allocating the two or more networkresources from the two or more first networks for providing therequested network services might comprise providing the two or morefirst networks with access over the one or more optical transport linksto one or more virtual network functions (“VNFs”) for use by thecustomer, the one or more VNFs providing the two or more networkresources having the desired performance parameters. In some instances,providing access to the one or more VNFs might comprise bursting, usingan application programming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one ormore network functions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two ormore first networks.

These and other functions of the system 700 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIGS. 1-5 .

While certain features and aspects have been described with respect toexemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous modifications are possible. For example, the methods andprocesses described herein may be implemented using hardware components,software components, and/or any combination thereof. Further, whilevarious methods and processes described herein may be described withrespect to particular structural and/or functional components for easeof description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limitedto any particular structural and/or functional architecture but insteadcan be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware and/or softwareconfiguration. Similarly, while certain functionality is ascribed tocertain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, thisfunctionality can be distributed among various other system componentsin accordance with the several embodiments.

Moreover, while the procedures of the methods and processes describedherein are described in a particular order for ease of description,unless the context dictates otherwise, various procedures may bereordered, added, and/or omitted in accordance with various embodiments.Moreover, the procedures described with respect to one method or processmay be incorporated within other described methods or processes;likewise, system components described according to a particularstructural architecture and/or with respect to one system may beorganized in alternative structural architectures and/or incorporatedwithin other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments aredescribed with—or without—certain features for ease of description andto illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the variouscomponents and/or features described herein with respect to a particularembodiment can be substituted, added and/or subtracted from among otherdescribed embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are describedabove, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to coverall modifications and equivalents within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, with a computingsystem over a network, a request for network services from a customer,the request for network services comprising desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,specific location, or specific network for providing the requestednetwork services; identifying, with the computing system, two or morenetwork resources from two or more first networks capable of providingthe requested network services, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices; establishing, with the computing system, one or more transportlinks between the identified two or more network resources, theidentified two or more network resources being disaggregated anddistributed network resources; deriving, with the computing system,distributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links;configuring, with the computing system, at least one network resource ofthe identified two or more network resources to perform at least one ofsimulating zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified twoor more network resources or simulating zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the desired characteristics and performance parametersfor the requested network services and based at least in part on thederived distributable synchronization state; and allocating, with thecomputing system, the identified two or more network resources forproviding the requested network services.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the computing system comprises one of a path computation engine,a data flow manager, a server computer over a network, a cloud-basedcomputing system over a network, or a distributed computing system. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more transport links compriseat least one of one or more optical transport links, one or more networktransport links, or one or more wired transport links.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein deriving, with the computing system, distributablesynchronization state across at least one of the identified two or morenetwork resources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more firstnetworks, or the one or more transport links comprises performing oneof: comparing, with the computing system, system clocks each associatedwith each of the identified two or more network resources, and deriving,with the computing system, the distributable synchronization state basedon any differences in the comparison of the system clocks; or comparing,with the computing system, two or more Qbit multi-states of two or morequantum timing systems associated with at least two of the identifiedtwo or more network resources, and deriving, with the computing system,the distributable synchronization state based on any differences in thecomparison of the two or more Qbit multi-states of each quantum timingsystem.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein simulating zero latency ornear-zero latency between the identified two or more network resourcescomprises using a re-timer to simulate zero latency or near-zero latencybetween the identified two or more network resources, based at least inpart on the derived distributable synchronization state.
 6. The methodof claim 4, wherein simulating zero distance or near-zero distancebetween the identified two or more network resources comprises using are-driver or a repeater to simulate zero distance or near-zero distancebetween the identified two or more network resources, based at least inpart on the derived distributable synchronization state.
 7. The methodof claim 4, wherein simulating zero latency or near-zero latency betweenthe identified two or more network resources or simulating zero distanceor near-zero distance between the identified two or more networkresources comprises utilizing a buffer with flexible buffer capacity tosimulate zero latency or near-zero latency between the identified two ormore network resources or to simulate zero distance or near-zerodistance between the identified two or more network resources, based atleast in part on the derived distributable synchronization state.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein establishing the one or more transport linksbetween the disaggregated and distributed identified two or more networkresources comprises utilizing light steered transport to establish theone or more transport links between the disaggregated and distributedidentified two or more network resources.
 9. The method of claim 1,further comprising: mapping, with computing system, a plurality ofnetwork resources within the two or more first networks; whereinidentifying the two or more network resources comprises identifying,with the computing system, the two or more network resources from thetwo or more first networks capable of providing the requested networkservices, based at least in part on the desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services and based atleast in part on the mapping of the plurality of network resources. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of identifying the two ormore network resources, mapping the plurality of network resources, orconfiguring the at least one network resource of the identified two ormore network resources is performed using at least one of one or moreartificial intelligence (“AI”) systems, one or more machine learningsystems, or one or more software defined network (“SDN”) systems. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein the identified two or more networkresources comprise peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”)-basednetwork cards each comprising one or more network interface cards(“NICs”), one or more smart NICs, one or more graphics processing units(“GPUs”), or one or more storage devices.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the identified two or more network resources comprise two ormore generic or single-purpose network devices in place of specializedor all-purpose network devices.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein thedesired characteristics comprise at least one of requirement for networkequipment to be geophysically proximate to the customer, requirement fornetwork equipment to be located within a geophysical location,requirement to avoid routing network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to route network traffic through a geophysicallocation, requirement to exclude a first type of network resources fromfulfillment of the requested network services, requirement to include asecond type of network resources for fulfillment of the requestednetwork services, requirement to fulfill the requested network servicesbased on a single goal indicated by the customer, or requirement tofulfill the requested network services based on multi-goals indicated bythe customer.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired performanceparameters comprise at least one of a maximum latency, a maximum jitter,a maximum packet loss, a maximum number of hops, performance parametersdefined in a service level agreement (“SLA”) associated with thecustomer or performance parameters defined in terms of natural resourceusage, quality of service (“QoS”) measurement data, platform resourcedata and metrics, service usage data, topology and reference data,historical network data, network usage trend data, or one or more ofinformation regarding at least one of latency, jitter, bandwidth, packetloss, nodal connectivity, compute resources, storage resources, memorycapacity, routing, operations support systems (“OSS”), or businesssupport systems (“BSS”) or information regarding at least one of fault,configuration, accounting, performance, or security (“FCAPS”).
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein allocating the two or more network resourcesfrom the two or more first networks for providing the requested networkservices comprises providing the two or more first networks with accessover the one or more transport links to one or more virtual networkfunctions (“VNFs”) for use by the customer, the one or more VNFsproviding the two or more network resources having the desiredperformance parameters.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein providingaccess to the one or more VNFs comprises bursting, using an applicationprogramming interface (“API”), one or more VNFs to one or more networkfunctions virtualization (“NFV”) entities at the two or more firstnetworks.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining,with an audit engine, whether each of the identified two or more networkresources conforms with the desired characteristics and performanceparameters.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether eachof the identified two or more network resources conforms with thedesired characteristics and performance parameters comprisesdetermining, with the audit engine, whether each of the identified twoor more network resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters on a periodic basis or in response to a requestto perform an audit.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein determiningwhether each of the identified two or more network resources conformswith the desired characteristics and performance parameters comprisesdetermining, with the audit engine, whether each of the identified twoor more network resources conforms with the desired characteristics andperformance parameters, by: measuring one or more network performancemetrics of each of the identified two or more network resources;comparing, with the audit engine, the measured one or more networkperformance metrics of each of the identified two or more networkresources with the desired performance parameters; determiningcharacteristics of each of the identified two or more network resources;and comparing, with the audit engine, the determined characteristics ofeach of the identified two or more network resources with the desiredcharacteristics.
 20. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor;and a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled tothe at least one processor, the non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon computer software comprising a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatusto: receive, over a network, a request for network services from acustomer, the request for network services comprising desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices, without information regarding any of specific hardware,specific hardware type, specific location, or specific network forproviding the requested network services; identify two or more networkresources from two or more first networks capable of providing therequested network services, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices; establish one or more transport links between the identifiedtwo or more network resources, the identified two or more networkresources being disaggregated and distributed network resources; derivedistributable synchronization state across at least one of theidentified two or more network resources, a backplane of one or more ofthe two or more first networks, or the one or more transport links;configure at least one network resource of the identified two or morenetwork resources to perform at least one of simulating zero latency ornear-zero latency between the identified two or more network resourcesor simulating zero distance or near-zero distance between the identifiedtwo or more network resources, based at least in part on the desiredcharacteristics and performance parameters for the requested networkservices and based at least in part on the derived distributablesynchronization state; and allocate the identified two or more networkresources for providing the requested network services.
 21. A system,comprising: a computing system, comprising: at least one firstprocessor; and a first non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one first processor, the firstnon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computersoftware comprising a first set of instructions that, when executed bythe at least one first processor, causes the computing system to:receive, over a network, a request for network services from a customer,the request for network services comprising desired characteristics andperformance parameters for the requested network services, withoutinformation regarding any of specific hardware, specific hardware type,specific location, or specific network for providing the requestednetwork services; identify two or more network resources from two ormore first networks capable of providing the requested network services,based at least in part on the desired characteristics and performanceparameters for the requested network services; establish one or moretransport links between the identified two or more network resources,the identified two or more network resources being disaggregated anddistributed network resources; derive distributable synchronizationstate across at least one of the identified two or more networkresources, a backplane of one or more of the two or more first networks,or the one or more transport links; configure at least one networkresource of the identified two or more network resources to perform atleast one of simulating zero latency or near-zero latency between theidentified two or more network resources or simulating zero distance ornear-zero distance between the identified two or more network resources,based at least in part on the desired characteristics and performanceparameters for the requested network services and based at least in parton the derived distributable synchronization state; and allocate theidentified two or more network resources for providing the requestednetwork services.